Celebración de la Vida y la Muerte

Masks y Mas holds Day of the Dead fiesta

Sugar skulls and pan de muerto, face paint and papeles picados—it's that time of year again. Dia de los Muertos will be here soon, and Masks y Mas invites the Duke City to come out and celebrate.

Albuquerque’s own Day of the Dead-themed shop at 3106 Central SE will hold their annual fiesta Friday, Oct. 25 so as to “beat everybody else by one week,” says store manager Kenny Chavez.

The event will include art demonstrations—such as the making of papeles picados (colorful paper banners)—as well as a muerte dessert show, sugar skull decorating and a reception featuring 40 local artists. Muerte face paint is available during the event by prior appointment (call the store at 256-4183) and The Cool Arrows, a Latino punk band, will provide live festival tunes.

Chavez says that the event, which has been held in the shop for over a decade, is a time to celebrate and honor lost loved ones. There will be a community altar for photos and keepsakes of those who have passed.

“It is driven by life and death,” Chavez says. “It's all part of the cycle, and it is becoming more a part of the culture in the United States. People have been so fearful of it … but it's a memorial day. And we've turned it into an art form. It's not a mourning thing, it's a celebration.”